Dental Hygienists

Ideally, aspiring dental hygienists should have prior experience operating dental equipment and working with patients. This experience can be obtained via work as a dental assistant or during an internship while in college.

Dental hygienists need technical skills that enable them to operate machinery involved in cleaning a patient's teeth. Manual dexterity is also necessary to handle delicate tools for scraping teeth, removing stains, and polishing teeth. Skill in handling delicate instruments, a sensitive touch, and depth perception are important attributes. Dental hygienists must also be familiar with X-ray machines that they use to take pictures of teeth that help to identify cavities, and jaw and gum problems.

To be a successful dental hygienist, you should be neat, clean, and personable. Compassion and sensitivity to a patient's needs are also important qualities for hygienists to provide effective care.